Multiple myeloma in Mexico: A 20-year experience at a single institution

Abstract Background In a 20-year period at a single institution, 66 cases of multiple myeloma (MM) were identified. The disease was less frequent in Mexico because in a multicenter study it represented 4.2% of all hematologic malignancies, whereas during this experience it was found to represent 7.7%. These figures contrast with those reported in Caucasians—10–15%. Methods There were two patients 3 months (97–7,054 days, median 2,371 days). Results Their survival (SV) was 51% at 540 days. Patients treated with melphalan/prednisone had a median SV of 33 months with a 72-month SV of 30%. Patients treated with vincristine/adriamycin/dexamethasone had an SV of 40% at 42 months, whereas those given high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell rescue had an SV of 80% at 22 months. Conclusions Clinical features of Mexican patients with MM were not significantly different from those reported for other populations; best results from treatment were observed in patients administered autologous stem cell transplantation.